§ Mr. TylerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much financial assistance will be available to fund organic conversion in the current financial year.[127017]
§ Mr. MorleyWe expect to spend £12 million on aid for conversion under the Organic Farming Scheme in financial year 2000–01.
118W
§ Mr. TylerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which European Union countries provide continuous financial support to farmers after the conversion process to organic farming has been completed. [127019]
§ Mr. MorleyThe hon. Member may like to refer to the table of statistics (page 51 of the Minutes of Evidence) on this matter included in the Report of the Inquiry on "Organic Farming and the European Union" undertaken by the House of Lords European Communities Committee (Sub-Committee D) in Session 1998–99 (HL Paper 93).
§ Mr. TylerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of agricultural land is certified organic and in conversion in(a) Austria, (b) Denmark, (c) Finland, (d) France, (e) Sweden and (f) the United Kingdom.[127016]
§ Mr. MorleyIn respect of organic areas in other EU member states, the hon. Member may like to refer to the table of statistics (page 49 of the Minutes of Evidence) on this matter included in the Report of the Inquiry on "Organic Farming and the European Union" undertaken by the House of Lords European Communities Committee (Sub-Committee D) in Session 1998-99 (HL Paper 93). Currently, around 3 per cent. of agricultural land in the UK is certified organic or in conversion.
§ Mr. TylerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the answer of 11 April 2000,Official Report,column 134W, on organic food, what additional financial assistance he will make available to farmers wishing to convert to organic farming, in addition to free conversion advice and on-farms visits by the Organic Conversion Information Service, before the Organic Farming Scheme reopens. [127025]
§ Mr. MorleyWe have no plans to provide funding additional to the £12 million we already plan to spend in 2000–01 under the Organic Farming Scheme. The OFS will reopen to new applications early in 2001 following the review of the scheme, which is currently taking place.